Vehicle-wheel and method of forming the same



APPLICATION FILED APR. 15. I918.

Patented Feb. 15, 1921.

avwe/wioz 115'? Z Jam Z00 fi 5% wmmL/W W UNITED STATES PATENT oFFiE.

WILIiIAM 1v. soorn, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

} VEHICLE-WHEEL AND METHOD or romaine 'rnnsaivrn.

To all whom it may concern Be it knownlthat I, \VILLIAM N. Boorrr,

a. citizenof the United States of America,

. hereinafter set forth. f

In the drawings: x

Figural is a: section through the rim or felly of :the wheel, showing the manner of engaging the spoke therewith;

Fig. 2 his a similar new with the spoke pressed into positionpand Fig.3 1s a similar view, showmg'the completed structure.

My invention is applicable to various" specific constructions of wheels but is particularly adapted for use in connection w th wheels having clencher tire rims which are directly engaged with the spokes' liith this specific-structure it is desirable to provide the outer face of-the clencher rim with a smooth surface-scanstdform no; obstruction or-projection tointerfere with the seating of the tire." Where such rims are directly connected with the spokes it is necessary to provide-tenons on the spokes engaging'apertures or recesses 'inthe rim, and on} account of "the comparatively thin gage of the metal the tenon's usually project through the same or beyondtheouter face of the rim. T hi produces an objectionable hump, interfering with the proper "seating of the tire. \Vith the present invention 1 have avoided the difficulty by forming aroundthe tenon-engaging aperture int-he rim airinwardly-extending 'fiange and have formed the spoke with a groove in its end surrounding the tenon for engaging this flange. I have further provided the spoke with a metallic cap the end of which conforms to the contour of the spoke to provide'the tenon and the groove'surrounding'the same for receiving the flange. Still anotherfeature of "having the flange or ferrule portion which surrounds the spoke, the tenon por tion H and the intermediate portion H and groove G.

Specification of Letters IPatent. Patient-ed F 1 192] Application filed Apl'il 15, 1918.

Serial. No. 228,689.

spoke tenon. D is the wooden spoke formed at its outer end with the tenon portion E, the shoulder portion F for seating on the inner face of the rim and the groove G intermediate said shoulder and the tenon to receive the flange C. H is a metallic ca conforming to the contour of the shoulder F The cap when first formed has its tenon portion of greater length than the depth of the flange C, and this portion is also rounded so as to permit of engagement with the aperture B whenthe spoke is in angular relation to the plane of the wheel.

This permits of the initial placing of the spokes alternately upon opposite sides of the plane of the wheel and then, forcing their wedgeshaped inner ends into engagement with each other to produce a radial outward movement of the spokes and the forcing of the same into firm engagement with the rim.

After the spokes are in final position the projecting rounded ends of the caps are flattened down. as shown in Fig. 3, the wooden spoke being cut away to provide for this flattening. The flattening of the cap also causes the pressing of the metal laterally over the rounded edge of the flange C, produring a lock which holds the cap from movement with respect to the rim. Thus, if

I through shrinkage or' any other cause, the

wooden spoke should shortenfthis cannot permit the cap to disengage from the rim and the only movement will be'of the wood within the metallic ferrule.

lVith the constructionas described the periphery of the rim against which. the tire is seated will have a substantially smooth.

unbroken surface, as" the flattened ends of the spoke caps will fill and close the apertures B. At the same time the end of the 2. In -a vehicle wheel. the combination with a rim having a tenon-engaging :iper-' ture and a radially inwari[Iv-turned flangesurroumling the same, of a spoke having a tenon. engaging said 1nwardly extending flange. a groove for receiving said flange and a shoulder portion surrounding said flange and groove and forming an abutting hearing for said rim.

3-. In a vehicle wheel. the combiln tion with a rim having a spoke-tenon-engaging aperture with a radially imvardly-extending flange surrounding the same, of a spoke fashioned to form a tenon for engaging aperture, a groove for engaging said flange and a shoulder for abutting against the rim portion surrounding, said flange, and a metallic cap conforming to the eontour of said tenon, groove and shoulder and extending inward to form a ferrule surrounding the end of the spoke.

L111 a vehicle wheel, the combination with a rim having a S1)Oke-t6l1011-ellgz1glng recess with a radially inwardly-extending v flange surrounding the same, of a spoke having a tenon portion tor engaging said recess, a shoulder port-ion for abutting against said rim and a groove intermediate said shoulder and tenon to receive said flange, and a ferrule surrounding the portion of saidspoke adj 'acent to said shoulder.

5. In a vehicle Wheel, the combination with a rim provided with a spoke-tenolr engaging aperture and a radially {1nwardlj -extending flange surrounding the same, of a spoke having a metallic cap at the end thereof, said spoke and cap beiug'c0rrespondingly fashioned to form a tenon for engaging said aperture. a shoulder for abut ting against the rim, an intermediate groove to receive said flange and a ferrule surf rounding the end pomou of the spoke.

(i. In a vehicle wheel. the combination with a rim having a spoke-tenon-engaging aperture therein, 01' a wooden spoke and a metallic'cap for the end thereof, said spoke and cap being fashioned to form ashoulder for abutting against said rim and a tenon for engaging said aperture, the tenoin portion oi said cap being locke lirom (llS- engagement from said rim and havin its end substantially flush with the perip ieral face of said rim. a

T. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with a metallic rim provided with a radially inwardlv-struck flange surroumling w tenon-engaging aperture, of a wooden Spoke and a metallic cap therefor fashioned to form a tenon portion, an abutting shoulder portion and an intermediate groove. or reeess-for said flange. the tenon portion of said cap being flush with the peripheral face of said rim and being expanded tolock the same from detachment from the rinu 8. The method of assembling vehicle wheels comprising the placing of rapped tenoned spokes in el-igagement with anapertured metallic run and upsetting the tenon portion of the cap to lock the same from d1sengagement.

0 5). The method of attaching spokes to the IlIllOl' felly of a velncle wheel comprising the engagement of metallic caps withthe outer ends of the spokes, said caps and spokes having abutting shoulder portions and projecting tenon portions engaging the tenons with apertures in the metallic rim or felly, and 'upsetting' the end of the eapped tenon to lock the same from disengagement from the rim an'dto form a flush joint with the periphery of the rim.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM N. BOOTH. V 

